Stingless Sugarbag Bee - Native to Oz

[MarkB1]

Early in the season this one couldn't wait for the pollen to be presented, so 'he' ripped open the sacs and raided the daisies, aggressively. Must have been hungry.

Trigona, much prized for its honey by the native Aussies.

[eaglem]

I'm pretty sure I've seen these around the garden but not in any great numbers. Excellent shots BTW.

[timmo]

wonderful images Mark. Bees are one of those essential critters to our well being that we really take no notice
of. Without them out there doing their thing, we wouldn't have too much in the way of crops, plants etc. Didn't I read
somewhere that Aussie bees were being exported because bees in other parts of the world were diseased ??
cheers
tim

[Alan]

What beautiful images. Amazing insects. Thanks for showing us such wonderful images of the micro world around us

[MarkB1]

Thanks guys, appreciated.

If you see them around there is a nest nearby, not so easy to find though. I think it was Attenborough who said if the insects were to die off we would be up to our necks in s*it within weeks, and dead close thereto ...

I wouldn't be surprised if we are exporting bees but they would be the European honey bee, not the natives as this one is - and too small to be commercial.